Loose leaf binder



July 4, 1939. D. McCHESNEY ET AL J 9 LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed June 18, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS.

y 1939- D. MCCHESNEY ET AL- 2,154,559

LOOSE LEAF BINDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 18, 1936 I E-LQ p r, 4414/ ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOOSE LEAF BINDER Application June 18, 1936, Serial No. 85,956

3 Claims.

This invention relates in general to loose leaf binders, and more particularly to loose leaf binders of the heavy, rugged type used as record books for the recording of legal documents, such 5 as deeds etc.

An object of the invention is a loose leaf binder of the type referred to embodying an improved structure which will permit the leaves to assume a substantially fiat position when the book is 10 opened for inspection.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for shifting the inner portions of the leaves back into right angular relationship relative to the back member of the binder during the 5, closing of the covers.

A further object of the invention is a loose leaf binder of the type referred to, and while possessing the advantages of the objects above mentioned is of neat and attractive appearance,

20 and is particularly durable in use.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had 5 to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a plan view of the inner face of our improved binder showing the portion of the covers adjacent the back member open in flat position, and with the leaves removed.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on lines 2-2, Figure 1, but with the covers swung to closed position.

5 Figure 3 is a cross sectional View, similar to Figure 2, with the book in open position.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on lines 44, Figure 1, with the covers open at an angle of approximately 45.

40 Figure 5 is a perspective view of the post securing housing and contiguous portions of the back and cover members.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the post securing means carried within the housing shown 5 in Figure 5.

The invention consists generally, of a loose leaf binder having a back member, housings secured to the back member, one extending along each longitudinal edge thereof, the inner sides 50 of the housings extending outwardly at an blique angle from the inner face of the back member to effect a minimum flexing of the inner portions of the leaves when the covers are opened in flat position, a plurality of leaf posts extend- 55 ing transversely of the back member and in spaced apart relationship thereto, means carried by the housings for securing the ends of the posts thereto, a cover hinged to each side edge of the back member and being provided with means operable during the closing of the cover to move the leaves into right angular relationship to the back member.

In the illustrated embodiment of our invention, the back member is composed of a metallic tube having walls I0, II, slightly spaced apart and 10 formed slightly arcuate. The outer wall II is provided with an outer finishing layer I2 of suitable material, such as leather, with the edges of the outer layer I2 extending inwardly over the inner wall II], asshown in Figures 1 to 4. The 16 back member further includes a plate I3 secured at intervals to the tubular structure I0, I I, by posts I I. The plate I3 is arranged in spaced apart relationship to the tubular structure I0, I I.

The leaves I5 are detachably secured at their 20 inner ends to the binder by leaf posts I6 which extend transversely of the back member and in spaced apart relation to the plate I3. The leaf posts I6 are detachably secured at their ends to the back member. A housing I8 is secured to each longitudinal edge of the back member, and is provided with means operable to engage the ends of the posts I6.

As here shown, the housings l8 are formed integral with the plate I3. That is, the side edges of the plate I3 are bent, or formed up in the shape of an oblong or elongated loop to form the hollow housings. However, the housings may be formed separately and secured to the plate I3 in any desirable manner. The housings I8 extend outwardly from the inner face of the back member or plate I3 at an oblique angle relatively to the plate I3, and the housings and plate I3 form a trough member having diverging side walls. That is, the housings I8, or at least the inner sides of the same, diverge outwardly as illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 inclusive. The purpose of this particular arrangement of the housings I8 is to reduce the arc, or radius, of the inner portions of the leaves I 5 when the book 5 is in flat open position, as shown in Figure 3.

Heretofore, insofar as we are aware, it has been customary to arrange the post securing housings at substantially right angles to the inner face of the back member. This causes the inner portions of the leaves to retain a right angle relationship to the back member and accordingly, results in the leaves flexing over an are or radius of considerable dimension, causing the top leaves on each side of the stack to tend to move to a normal closed position and making it dificult to inspect, or read, the written matter along the inner portions of the leaves. This results in persons inspecting, or making abstracts from the book, attempting to force the inner portions of the leaves apart, often damaging the inner edges of the leaves engaged by the leaf posts As illustrated in Figure 3, due to the particular arrangement and construction of the back 111"111- ber, the binder, when opened, lies a substantially flat horizontal position, with the back extending in substantially the same plane as the outer surface of the covers when the book is opened on a flat surface and the leaves readily part and flex on a comparatively small radius, whereby the entire surface of the leaf written upon can be conveniently inspected.

The covers 25! are preferably of laminated construction comprising inner and outer layers 2i, 22, with a metallic plate 23 secured between the laminations 2|, 22, and extending outwardly from the inner longitudinal edge of the cover and formed with pintle receiving eyes 2 The housings l8 are formed, or provided with consolemental eye members 25 which, together "1 1c eye members 24, form a piano type hinge the covers and the back member. In the structure illustrated, this hinge is assembled on pintle rod 26 located along the longitud vl edge of the back member adjacent the bottom of the housings l8 and in spaced relation to the tubular structure I6, I I. The covers 2E3 are provided with an outer finishing layer 21' of material similar to the outer finishing layer E2 on the back member, and this outer layer 2? extends between the lateral edges of the tubular structure i!) ii and the hinged joint of the cover, as illustra ed in Figures 2 to 4. With this structure, the in joint of the cover is concealed and the finished appearance of the binder continued throughout the covers and the back member.

The hinge plate 23 of the covers is offset or curved outwardly as at to provide a pocket or recess to receive the housings l8 when the covers are in closed position, as indicated in Figure 2.

Preferably, one or both of the housi; provided with means for detachably secur thends of the posts to the housings and the member. contains a slide member 3i which is movable axially of the housing and extends through one As here illustrated, each housing end of the housing, and is provided with a .itable knob or handle 32 by which the i may be manually manipulated. The slide is also provided with a plurality of post engaging pintles 33 which are so arranged that when the slide 3! is moved inwardly, the pintles enter apertures in the ends of the posts iii. The housings l8 are provided with a plurality of notches 34 of such width as to receive the ends of the posts Hi.

In order that the leaves, and particularly the inner portions of the leaves, may be rearranged in a perpendicular position relative to the back member or plate i3, the covers 26 are provided with means for engaging the leaves and moving them to such position during the closing of the covers. As here shown, the covers are provided on their inner faces with one or more projections 35. These projections may comprise an extension of the inner lamination 25, or may consist of a metallic plate, or the like, secured to the inner side of the covers. The projections 35 extend through the housings l8, or toward the cover hinge, and are of such length that they extend downwardly and overlap the inner sides of the housings l8 and preferably, assume a position in a plane intercepting the jointure of the base of the housings IS with the back plate It. Due to the fact that the projections 35 extend inwardly beyond the outer edge of the housings it, the housings I8 are provided with slots or openings 36 of sufficient width to receive the projections 35, and in the structure disclosed the slide member 38 is also provided with complemental cut away portions 3i which are of sulficient length to permit passage of the cover extensions 35 during opening and closing movement of the covers. That is, as the projections 35 travel in an are about the axis of the cover hinge, they pass through the slots 36 and the out out portions 31 of the slide SI and engage the outermost leaf on each side of the book, and during the closing of the cover the leaves are thus straightened up and moved to a position at right angles to the back member or plate it, as indicated by the dotted outline Figure 2.

We have found that the structure described operates efiiciently when the housings iii are arranged on an oblique angle of about 45 relative to the back member. This permits the pages of large record books to assume a substantially flat position, and the continuation of the inner face of the cover in the nature of the projections form an effective and eiiicient means for rearranging the pages during the closing of the covers.

What We claim is:

1. A loose leaf binder comprising a back member, a housing extending along the longitudinal edge of the back member and extending outwardly at an oblique angle relatively thereto, a plurality of leaf retaining posts being secured at like ends to said housing, a cover hinged to the back member adjacent said housing, said cover being formed on its inner face with leaf engaging projections extending toward said housing, and said housing being provided with notches in its outer edge, said notches being arranged to permit said projections to be moved through said housing during opening and closing of the cover.

2. A loose leaf binder comprising a back memher, a pair of housings carried by said back member, said housings extending along the longitudinal edges of said back member and extending outwardly at oblique angles relatively thereto to permit the leaves of the binder to lie substantially fiat when the binder is open, a plurality of leaf retaining posts extending transversely of said back member in spaced apart relationship thereto, means carried by said housings and being operable to detachably secure the ends of the posts to said housings, a cover hinged adjacent each longitudinal edge of the back member and being provided on its inner face with a projection extending toward its adjacent housing, each of said housings being provided with a slot to permit said projection to pass through the housing during opening and closing of the cover, said projections being arranged to engage th leaves and arrange them in right angular relationship to the back member during the closing of the covers.

3. A loose leaf binder comprising a back member, a cover hinged to each longitudinal edge of the back member, a housing arranged adjacent each edge of the back member and extending outwardly at an oblique angle relatively thereto, a plurality of leaf retaining posts,' a pintle slide mounted in each housing and being provided with post engaging pintles, each of said covers being provided with a plurality of projections extending toward the hinge of the cover, and each of said housings and pintle slides being provided with slots arranged to permit said cover projections to pass from one side of the housing to the other during the opening and closing of the covers, said cover projections being arranged to engage the leaves in the binder and arrange them in right angular relationship to the back member when the covers are in closed position.

DONALD MCCHESNEY. JAMES COOPER. 

